Packers WR Greg Jennings set to return after missing last 7 games with abdominal tear

The Green Bay Packers won't get all of their injured starters back this week. The one they will get back could make a big difference.

The Packers are hoping the return of two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Greg Jennings will revive a disappointing game.

The question is how many snaps Jennings will be able to handle against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

Jennings has missed the last seven games and had surgery Nov. 1 to repair a lower abdominal tear that has bothered him since he first injured it near the end of the Sept. 9 season opener against San Francisco. Coach Mike McCarthy expects Jennings to be a full participant in practice Wednesday.

"Just talking with Greg Saturday and Sunday, I think he's in a good place and he's ready to (go)," McCarthy said. "He needs a full week of work, and that's our plan."

Jennings was in and out of the lineup during the first month of the season and has not played since catching a touchdown Sept. 30 in a victory over New Orleans.

"You also have to have the conversation of, how many plays is he going to play? That's really what the week's work is for," McCarthy said. "We'll see how it goes Wednesday. Because when guys come off injuries that hold them out of multiple weeks, multiple games, it's important that we not only have Greg for Minnesota, but all the way through (the rest of the season). So that's something we'll watch Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and communicate."

Jennings practiced all three days last week and proclaimed himself "ready" last Friday, but he was inactive for the team's 38-10 loss at the New York Giants on Sunday night.

"As a player, every player wants to be out there and play. I'm no different. I want to go out there and play — especially if you feel good," Jennings said last week. "But at the end of the day, I'm going to let them make the decision. I'm going to give my input, but it'll be their decision, their call. We'll see."

While quarterback Aaron Rodgers has had Jordy Nelson, James Jones and emerging second-year man Randall Cobb in his arsenal, Jennings' absence has been felt by the Packers, who rank 18th in the NFL in yards per game (342.9) and 13th in scoring (24.8 points per game) after leading the NFL in scoring last season (35.0) and finishing fifth in yardage (401.5).

"Greg's a dynamic player. He's been to the Pro Bowl, he has an excellent working relationship with Aaron Rodgers, they're on the same page," McCarthy said. "Greg's one of those receivers that's extremely athletic, his body language is very easy to readjust to and Aaron has great confidence to throw to with anticipation. They have a lot of history together, a lot of production. It'd be great to have him back."

The Packers have had trouble against teams playing predominantly Cover-2 defenses against them, and Jennings' ability to get open on underneath routes as well as stretch the field would help.

"Obviously, he's an outstanding player," offensive coordinator Tom Clements said. "Anytime you get an outstanding player on the field, it makes the defense prepare a little bit differently and hopefully we can take advantage of a good player."

McCarthy did not update the status of 2011 first-round draft pick Derek Sherrod, who has been on the physically-unable-to-perform list since breaking a lower leg last Dec. 18 at Kansas City, or of veteran running back Cedric Benson, who sprained a foot Oct. 7 at Indianapolis. Benson was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return.

Benson, who was put on IR three days after the injury, was scheduled to visit a specialist in Charlotte, N.C., and after initially ruling out surgery, that possibility was reportedly still being considered last week. Benson is currently eligible to return to practice and under league rules could play Dec. 9 against Detroit.

But McCarthy said Benson would not practice this week and asked if he thought the Packers would get Benson back this season, McCarthy replied, "We'll probably have some information for you tomorrow on Cedric Benson."

McCarthy also said the team would have an announcement on Sherrod on Wednesday. The NFL's transaction wire stated that Sherrod "remains on Reserve/Physically Unable To Perform (List)," indicating he will not play this season.

The Packers' offensive line is struggling in the wake of right tackle Bryan Bulaga's season-ending hip injury Nov. 4, and the only remaining backups on the 53-man roster are undrafted rookie free agents Don Barclay and Greg Van Roten.